Sermon Brainwave 1054: First Sunday of Advent (Year A) - November 30, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Release Date: 11/04/2025
Sermon Brainwave 1054: First Sunday of Advent (Year A) - November 30, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for the Sermon Brainwave podcast as they explore the texts for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A. This episode kicks off the new church year with a deep dive into themes of watchfulness, waiting, and Christ's coming in history, mystery, and majesty. In this episode, the hosts discuss: * Isaiah 2:1-5 and the vision of peace among nations * Psalm 122 and Jerusalem as a means of grace * Romans 13:11-14 on waking from sleep and walking in the light * Matthew 24:36-44 and the mystery of Christ's coming The conversation addresses common...
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Sermon Brainwave 1053: Christ the King - November 23, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Rolf Jacobson, Caroline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday (November 23, 2025) - the final Sunday of the church year and Year C. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into what it means for Jesus to be called "king" and how we understand Christ's reign in a world unfamiliar with monarchies. They examine the Gospel reading from Luke 23:33-43, where Jesus is crucified alongside two criminals, asking: What kind of king is this? A crucified king who sees those we overlook and extends mercy to the marginalized. The...
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Sermon Brainwave 1052: Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost - November 16, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (November 16, 2025). This episode dives into Luke 21:5-19, focusing on Jesus's apocalyptic speech about the destruction of the temple and the call to bear witness through endurance. The hosts discuss what it means to testify in times of difficulty, how endurance is not just about getting through hard times but about embodying witness to God's provision. They explore connections between vulnerability and the desire for security, Luther's theology...
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Sermon Brainwave 1051: Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost - November 9, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary texts for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (November 9, 2025). This episode dives deep into Luke 20:27-38, where the Sadducees challenge Jesus with a seemingly absurd question about resurrection and marriage. Is there such a thing as a stupid question? The hosts discuss what it means to live without fear of death, how to sit in the promise of resurrection rather than our own expectations, and why the urgency of worship matters. They also explore Job 19:23-27a (including the famous "I Know That My...
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Sermon Brainwave 1050: All Saints Sunday (Year C) - November 2, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for All Saints Sunday (Year C). In this episode, the hosts dive deep into Luke 6:20-31 (the Beatitudes and Woes), Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Psalm 149, and Ephesians 1:11-23. The conversation examines Luke's unique "Sermon on the Plain" where Jesus comes down to be with the people, addressing them directly with "blessed are you" (all y'all) rather than Matthew's third-person "blessed are those." The hosts discuss the challenging juxtaposition of blessings and woes, exploring how these words hit...
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Sermon Brainwave 1049: Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost - November 2, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner as they explore the powerful story of Zacchaeus and discuss the Revised Common Lectionary texts for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into Luke 19:1-10, wrestling with a critical translation question in verse 8: Is Zacchaeus announcing a conversion, or revealing his existing practices? This interpretive choice completely changes how we understand the story. They explore themes of salvation, seeking the lost, and Jesus's consistent ministry of seeing those others overlook. The conversation...
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Sermon Brainwave 1048: Reformation Sunday - October 26, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for another insightful episode of Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for Reformation Sunday (October 26, 2025). This episode dives deep into the themes of freedom, truth, and God's covenant faithfulness through the lens of Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19-28, and John 8:31-36. The hosts discuss the complex theological debates in John 8, often avoided in the lectionary, and explore what it truly means to be set free by Christ. They examine the difference between freedom FROM versus freedom FOR, drawing insights from Luther's...
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Sermon Brainwave 1047: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - October 26, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for another engaging episode of Sermon Brainwave as they dive deep into the lectionary texts for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost (October 26, 2025). In this thought-provoking discussion, the hosts wrestle with Luke's parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, exploring the complexities that make this story both challenging and rewarding for preachers. Karoline shares insights from Amy-Jill Levine's interpretation, suggesting both characters might be caricatures - and potentially both justified. The conversation reveals how this parable...
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Sermon Brainwave 1046: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 19, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for this episode of Sermon Brainwave as they explore the lectionary readings for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost (October 19, 2025). The conversation gets particularly rich around themes of persistence in prayer, wrestling with God and Scripture, and what discipleship really looks like in Luke's gospel. The hosts offer practical homiletical directions and insights that will help preachers prepare meaningful sermons for this Sunday. This is essential listening for pastors, preachers, and anyone interested in deep biblical interpretation and...
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Sermon Brainwave 1045: Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 12, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Welcome to Sermon Brainwave! Join hosts Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they dive deep into the lectionary readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 12th, 2025). In this episode, we explore the powerful theme of unexpected faith through the story of Jesus healing ten men with a skin disease in Luke 17:11-19, where a Samaritan becomes the unlikely exemplar of gratitude and praise. The hosts connect this Gospel reading with the fascinating Old Testament story of Naaman the Syrian from 2 Kings 5, examining how healing and salvation come through unexpected...
info_outlineJoin Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for the Sermon Brainwave podcast as they explore the texts for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A. This episode kicks off the new church year with a deep dive into themes of watchfulness, waiting, and Christ's coming in history, mystery, and majesty.
In this episode, the hosts discuss:
* Isaiah 2:1-5 and the vision of peace among nations
* Psalm 122 and Jerusalem as a means of grace
* Romans 13:11-14 on waking from sleep and walking in the light
* Matthew 24:36-44 and the mystery of Christ's coming
The conversation addresses common misinterpretations of the "rapture" theology, examines what it means to be ready and watchful during Advent, and reflects on the contested reality of Jerusalem today in contrast to the biblical vision of peace. Plus, hear about Matt Skinner's new resources for Advent and the Year of Matthew!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- "Voices of Advent" by Matt Skinner - https://www.cokesbury.com/voices-of-advent"
- "Matthew: The Gospel of Promised Blessings" by Matt Skinner - https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791030162/
- "Paul Among the People" by Sarah Ruden - https://sarahruden.com/book/paul-among-the-people/
Commentaries for the First Sunday of Advent can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/first-sunday-of-advent/commentary-on-matthew-2436-44-7.
⏰Timecodes⏰
00:00 Introduction to Advent and New Beginnings
03:03 Understanding the Meaning of Advent
05:49 Theological Reflections on Readiness and Watchfulness
08:53 Exploring Isaiah's Vision of Peace
16:42 Psalm 122
18:04 The Role of Jerusalem in Advent
21:58 The Significance of Romans 13 in Advent -- Being Awake
25:50 Walking Decently and Sarah Rudin's "Paul Among the People"
26:45 Outro
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Sermon Brainwave is a production of Luther Seminary's Working Preacher, which has been providing trusted biblical interpretation and preaching inspiration since 2007.
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